After the Romans crucified Jesus, he was buried in a new tomb but he rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples and 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:6) over a span of forty days before his return to heaven. Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, the Sunday after Good Friday which marks his crucifixion. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a triumphant victory over death and the event is the most important event following the crucifixion. Without the resurrection our faith would be meaningless, because we would not have the hope of being raised from the dead and we would still be under the condemnation of sin. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not… read more
Legion of Skills
Death by crucifixion was an especially cruel and agonizing way to die. The Romans employed this form of execution primarily for slaves, although it was also used for foreigners, traitors and the most despicable of criminals. It was generally regarded as too degrading to be utilized for Roman citizens.1 Christ’s death on the cross is God’s ultimate act of love for mankind, The cross reminds us of Jesus’ victory over death, through His death and resurrection, we have the assurance of victory over sin and the promise of eternal life. As we look at these images, lets reflect on God’s love and sacrifice, take every opportunity to share the Gospel with others. Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. Romans 5:18 [ilink url=”http://www.christinyou.net/pages/crosschrst.html”] Cross of Christ : A study of the meaning of… read more
Create A Planetary Star Field in Photoshop: In this tutorial we’ll learn how to create a Planetary Star Field using masks and a few star brushes. Photoshop brushes are very powerful, they can simulate real life objects, like trees, birds and in our case, a Planetary Star Field. You can find many free brushes online at places like Brusheezy and Deviant Art. While this is a fairly simple process to achieve, there are a few tips and tricks that can be applied to any project to increase productivity and enhance the realism of your scene. Lets get started! Inspiration This tutorial was inspired by Tyler van der Hoeven’s Image called Star Field. Thanks to Tyler for graciously allowing me to use his high-resolution photo in the process of recreating the image. The image reminded me of Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work… read more
The wisdom of God is so far above man, it is on a different level altogether. Our intelligence, even at its best, is so small. God compares it to the distance of the earth from the heavens, such a vast span, it cannot be measured. We think that science in all its Glory can solve all the problems we have in the world, but we do not understand that man’s biggest problem is not physical, but it is one that is spiritual. What is man’s spiritual problem? We have broken the law of God and in turn, we are separated from Him and now we want to become God. We look at science as something to replace God, we even start to question the existence of God. We ask, if there is a good God out there, why are so many problems in the world, why are people dying, starving… read more
March has been another solid month for amazing Photoshop content. In this month’s roundup we have selected some great high quality tutorials that utilize paintings, 2d drawings as well as Illustrations. So lets get into another great roundup! Painting Figures with Liquid In this photo manipulation tutorial, Jennifer Cirpici explains how to create a figure that appears made from water, working from a stock photograph…. Making of the Rest by Fernando Ferreiro This is a picture made only for fun and without references, using only my imagination, except in the flag on the jacket…. Planets Colliding in Our Galaxy Photoshop Tutorial In this tutorial I will show you a simple way to create a fantasy photo manipulation with two planets almost colliding….. Create an Intense Movie Poster in Photoshop In this tutorial I’ll show you how I created my Invasion movie poster in Photoshop…. Meteorite Impact… read more
This Extravagant Composition in Photoshop CS5 is based on a piece I did called Extravagant Worship, the image was inspired by the worship song,  ‘Til I See Your Face by Miriam Webster. We will start out by compositing multiple images, then use some custom brushes to paint in some details, then finish up by adding color and lighting to bring everything together. lets dig In! Final Image Resources PREMADE Beach Stock by xxfantaisiamanipsxx stock 695 by blacksockstock stock 683 by blacksockstock Cloud Photoshop Brushes by leboef 24 Clouds by Milanda Clouds by by esterliquori Flock of Pigeons Brush for PS7 by BeltaneFireStock Ultimate Web 2.0 Gradients by DesignFolio Step 1 [sociallocker] Open the Premade Beach Stock image in Photoshop. Double click the image’s layer in the layer palette to make it a new layer. We will use the natural lighting of the image. Flip the image horizontally, since we want most… read more
We have a great line-up of tutorials this month, that will satisfy your artistic thirst! These tutorials range from cool photo manipulations, typography effects, Photography tricks and much more. Check them out, you may find something that you like! Futuristic Photo Illustration With Photoshop Take an image of a model and turn it into a futuristic composition that uses various Photoshop techniques such as masks, color and light effects… View Tutorial Learn the Secrets of Painted Photos Derek Lea focuses on a single Corel Painter tool, the Oil Palette Knife. It uses the colors and imagery from existing layers and spreads them around on a new layer, taking you far along the path from photo to painted portrait, with only fine detail to be added… View Tutorial Create an Ice Cream Type Treatment in Photoshop Learn how to realize an awesome text effect using ice cream! The process is simple… read more
Although Christian designers can derive inspiration from almost everything, the Bible is our greatest source of inspiration. The Bible is filled with life changing words that can also be translated into beautiful eye-catching wallpapers. The wallpapers allow us to experience the Word of God in a whole new light. We collected some beautiful wallpapers below, remember to share them with someone today. [sam id=3 codes=’false’] [sam id=3 codes=’false’] [sam id=3 codes=’false’]
I read an article by Brandon, about demons, and I decided to share my personal story of some accounts I had in the past. This is the first time I am sharing this with anyone on-line, but I think it can be an eye opener for some. Demons are very real, I have had my experiences. Let me share one with you. First, let let me give a disclaimer: I don’t smoke, drink, take any kind of drugs, I have no mental problems etc, etc and what I am about to say may sound crazy!! For a few months, about five or six years ago, I was working on a Creation Book and during this time, I had some experiences that led me to believe that I had demon activity in our house. I would be troubled in my sleep almost every night and sometimes when I was taking a nap… read more
Facing hard times is something that most people around the world can easily relate with today, gas price is sky high, major companies and banks are failing, the world economy is on a downhill slide and the ripple effects go on and on. How will we respond when problems come to our doorstep? Our response can either be a way to grow in a positive direction or cause us to crumble. Depending on how hard you fall, it may be harder for you to look up; some may go to the extreme response of cursing God! We can take a tip from Job, he was a righteous man, but he had the worst economic crisis in his life, he lost it all, land, house, health, family and friends, basically he lost everything. In Job 23:2-12, Job hoped that he would see God working out his circumstances, but God seemed to… read more
Woodpeckers are one of Gods amazing creatures, they are a very special family of birds found worldwide, except for Australia and New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats, although a few species are known to live in treeless areas such as rocky hillsides and deserts. The diet of woodpeckers consists mainly of insects and their grubs taken from living and dead trees, along with fruit, nuts and sap from live trees. Their role ecologically is geared towards keeping trees healthy by keeping them from suffering mass infestations. The family is noted for its ability to acquire wood-boring grubs using their bills for hammering, but overall the family is characterized by its dietary flexibility, with many species being both highly omnivorous and opportunistic. What’s so special about the Woodpecker? Many of the foraging, breeding and signaling behaviors of woodpeckers involve drumming and… read more
The impact of Facebook is far reaching, even surpassing the developers expectations, it has infiltrated the social media scene like a storm. When Facebook launched in 2004 it was strictly for college students to connect with each other and share information with friends. Facebook went public, but hardly anyone knew about it and it was competing heavily with other social networks like Myspace, today many people are connecting and meeting up with friends and family. Businesses are now using Facebook as a means to increase exposure with target advertising, increase traffic to their websites and develop credibility between customers and their brands. So how has Facebook impacted the Church? First we must clarify what “the Church” is. Most people understand the Church as a building but, the word “Church†comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly†or “called-out ones.†The root meaning of “Church†is… read more
HDR Image from One Photo in Photoshop: Last month we learned how to create a High Dynamic Range Image (HDR) from three different exposures ranging from light to dark, this tutorial will bring us through the steps in creating the HDR look from a single image in Photoshop, it takes just a few minutes to complete. Lets get started! [sociallocker] Resource: Homeless Portraiture by Stock.xchng Final Image Step 1 You should start out with a high quality photo that has good lighting and obvious highlights. I choose the following photo because it has a lot of details I wanted to bring out in the face. Step 2 Open the Homeless Portraiture by Stock.sxchng. Make sure the levels and colors are fixed on the original before you start. Duplicate the Layer, then go Filter > Other > High Pass. Set the Radius to 4.0 and then set the Blending Mode… read more
The Hoatzin, the national bird of Guyana, is an unusual species of tropical bird found in swamps, riverine forest and mangroves of the Amazon and the Orinoco delta in South America. The scientific classification of this family of birds has been greatly debated, and is still far from clear. It is a roughly pheasant-sized bird, with a long neck and small head. It is brown in color, with paler underparts and has an un-feathered blue face with maroon eyes, and its head is topped by a spiky, rufous crest. It is called Stinkbird, the name is related to a strong smell the bird produces, perhaps due to the consumption of leaves. Even though these birds are very attractive and are not great fliers, they are not considered endangered, its survival seems to be more assured than that of many other birds in its geographic location, this is mostly due to… read more
Each month we feature some of the best Photoshop tutorials and this month is exciting! The tutorials range from cool photo manipulations, a cute twitter bird icon and awesome digital creations. Check them out, you may find something that you like! Giant Man In The City – Photoshop Tutorial In this tutorial you learn how to simulate a big man standing in the middle of a city. View Tutorial Design A Creative Portfolio in Photoshop In this tutorial you will learn how to create a clean web layout with a nice background illustration. View Tutorial Create A Realistic Loaf of Bread in Photoshop This tutorial will demonstrate how to create a realistic looking loaf of bread in Photoshop. View Tutorial [sam id=3 codes=’false’] Draw Realistic Liquids in Vector Art Learn numerous Illustrator techniques to create vector liquid, by playing around with Illustrator’s Mesh tool, Warp tool and layer blending… read more
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? the answer to this question may be obvious to some, but believe it or not most Christians do not know or don’t care to know about the history behind this much celebrated day. Halloween is celebrated around the world when people dress up in costumes, collect candy from neighbors and have parties, but do we ever take time to think about the origins of Halloween? Most people don’t think twice about participating in it saying “It’s all in fun” or “Its not evil to me”, but is this so called hallow evening really so innocent? Christians are called to be set apart from the practices of the world, especially those with an history of the occult. Watch this intriguing video that shed some light on the practices and history of…Halloween! Relevant scripture on the issue of Halloween and Christians: “When you come into the land which… read more
Xara 3D Type in a Wallpaper Project: Photo manipulation is always fun, it opens the spectrum of what we can create in Photoshop and allow our imagination to run wild! Today we will be re-creating a wallpaper called “Life”. In this wallpaper, I used some simple techniques to pull all my elements together, like 3D typography from Xara3D, and a few images. The inspiration for this image came from a reflection on how we can see the majesty of God in creation. Every living thing has a purpose in the circle of life, and we can’t help, but give God the glory and honor! Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created. Revelation 4:11 Final Image Skill Level Intermediate Resources Xara3DMushroom Image From Stock.xchngRobin Image From From… read more
As we come to the close of our 100 Days Praise Challenge, we want to thank w2wsoul.com and those who participated, gave praise shout outs, and shared their artwork. We continue to give God thanks and praise for the things he has done in our lives, because we really and truly cannot stop giving praise to God. Praise should be a part of our daily lives and should encompass all that we do. Living a life that is surrendered totally to Christ is our ultimate offering of praise. Our Praise Challenge took us through many books in the Bible and we learnt that praise can take many forms for the believer. Singing songs and hymns, clapping our hands, even jumping for joy…the list is endless. We can give glory and praise to our God with the use of our physical bodies, with our hearts and minds, and with our talents… read more
Each month we feature some of the best Photoshop tutorials and this month is exciting! The tutorials range from cool photo manipulations, to some fantastic digital drawings. Check them out, you may find something that you like! Create a Brick Curtain with Displace Filter in Photoshop This tutorial will teach you how to create a curtain made of bricks or how to deform a brick wall as it was a curtain. To do that we will use a few stock photos, layer adjustments and the Displace filter in Photoshop CS5. The technique is pretty simple and the tutorial won’t take you more than 30 minutes to go through it. View Tutorial Create a Fantasy Girlbird Illustration with Photoshop Create a fantasy bird girl illustration using digital painting and photo manipulation techniques. The results can often be cute, funny, or even a bit disturbing, check it out! View Tutorial Create… read more
In this video tutorial by Che McPherson from TutCandy.com, you will learn how to use custom brushes to add a nice splatter effect to your image to create a stunning abstract piece of artwork. Check it out and Enjoy! Resources Free Splatter Brush Set by loswl Create Custom Brushes in Photoshop by che mcpherson Final Image [sociallocker] [/sociallocker]
One of the things that continues to inspire artist is the natural things around us. Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. As we look around us we are inspired by all the beauty that God has created for us to enjoy, water, fire, plants, animals, birds, fishes, clouds, rainbows, etc. God has given us the ability to imagine and design varied amount of images, in our minds and these images spill out on the canvas as beautiful pieces of art. Creattica a gallery of great design and inspirational imagery showcases the artwork of some amazing artist. Below you will find some breathtaking images from their archives inspired by nature. Enjoy! [sam id=3 codes=’false’] [sam id=3 codes=’false’] [sam id=3 codes=’false’]
We’ve decided to start doing a roundup of the best tutorials released on the web each month. This month, there were some excellent tutorials for you to choose from. Please take a moment to review our favorites from August 2010. Paint Using A Dreamlike 80’s Airbrush Effect Learn how to create a beautiful, dreamlike painting full of subtle details but with a bold 80’s color scheme? Design duo KittoZutto show you how in this tutorial on creating an airbrushed portrait tapping the glory days of Athena posters. Visit Tutorial Create A Elegant Gold Ornamental Text in Photoshop Learn how to create an unusual text effect by combining different photos and brush elements. This golden text is a nice idea and suitable for some treasury topic. Visit Tutorial Create A Cool Scenery using Matte Painting Techniques In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to take a concept, develop it using linear… read more
The book, “Creation, The Dawn of Mankind” by Mark Taylor, presents a fresh look at an old story, the story of man’s beginning, as recorded in the book of Genesis. Genesis gives a compelling answer to man’s greatest question, “where did we come from?” The book is illustrated in a comic format using unique full color artwork, created with 3d and 2d software. It captures the wonder of creation and the fact that God made it all for man, His ultimate creation. God’s plan of salvation is revealed in the story and we get to see the loving grace and mercy of God, to His fallen and disobedient children. Read and Share it today. Click the lower right edge of the Flash Book after it is loaded. Book also available in paperback on Blurb Why Did I Write The Book? As a kid, I often pondered the question of, “how… read more
One of the hardest thing for designers is to find that single image that fits our design idea. Sometimes we spend more time looking for photos than we spend on the actual design, but when we find that one gem of an image it makes a world of difference. That’s why I put this list of the best websites to find stock photos together. The list contains websites that range from free stock photos to free graphic resources. I also included some paid subscription sites, like ShutterStock and Dreamstime and some websites I often use to get free textures and graphic resources. Enjoy! [sociallocker] Free Stock Photos EveryStockPhoto Search engine for free stock photos and clip art for the stock photography community including images of creative commons and public domain and other free licenses. Flickr Creative Commons All the content on this page is protected by a Attribution License…. read more